Automatic speed changing device



June 3o, 1936. J. c. cox-:N 2,045,835

AUTOMATIC SPEED CHANGING DEVICEy Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N u, w N n E Josep/fc. cof/vA J. c. CoEN June 30, 1936.

AUTOMATIC SPEED CHANGING DEVICE IFiled Dec. `'7, 1954 3 sheets-sheet 2 "Il/1111111111112). VIII/11A",

June 30;: i936;

Jf., c. cogN AUTOMATICI SPEED CHANGING DEVICE Filed'nec. fz, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jose-PH c, coe/v [IAM 7 in second gear;

Patented Juneau, me

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

into action as pressure increases on the drive shaf t suiiciently to pull the load, and which will automatically and progressively shift back to a higher gear as pressure is decreased upon the drive shaft.

Another object of this invention is, the production of a simple and efficient automatic gear shift which will provide a smooth gearchanging device whereby the change of gear will be controlled automatically in proportion to the speed of the driving engine and the drag or pull of the load upon the driving shaft.

A further object of this invention is the production of an automatic gear shift which is so constructed as to automatically throw the mechanism into second gear when the motor vehicle upon which the device is installed is stopped, or when the motor and vehicle are operating at a speed where the second gear drive is necessary, such for instance as while the vehicle is in heavy traiic.

' Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent throughout the following specication and claims.

v In the drawings:-

Y Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the speed changing device, certain parts being shown in elevation and the parts being shown in high gear or in a position of direct drive;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the casing supporting the reverse gear mechanism;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through 'the speed changing device, certain parts being shown in elevation and the parts being illustrated Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 4; v

Figure 8 is a section taken on ure 4;

Figure 9 is ure 4;

line 8-"8 of Figa section taken on line 9-9 of Fig- Figure 10 is` a section taken on line |0|IJ of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the clutch means which controls the gear changing mechanism, the various parts being 5 shown in a drawn-apart relation for the purpose of illustrating the construction thereof;

Figure 12 is an end elevation of the key operating sleeve;

Figure 13 is `a longitudinal section of the key 10 operating sleeve taken on line |3`| 3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a top plan View of a portion of the key supporting drum illustrating the manner in which the keys are mounted;

Figure 15 is a section taken on line |5|5 of l5 Figure 14; v

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of one of the ring gears partly. shown in section.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 20 designates the casing or housing which supports the gear changing mechanism and into which the driving shaft 2| extends and is journaled Within the bearings 22 carried by lthe forward end of the casing 20. This driving shaft 2| is provided with a worm thread 23, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 4. Mounted upon this worm thread is a centrifugal disc 24 having radiating weighted arms 25 projecting from the periphery of the disc 24, as shown in Figure 10, these Weighted arms extending in a direction parallelv to the transverse axis of the driving shaft 2|. The disc 24 may'consist of a core upon which may be mounted suitable face plates 26, if desired, such as is lillustrated in Figure 4. A coil spring 21 is iixedly secured to a collar 28 carried by the drive shaft 2| and' this coil spring 2'| is in turn connected to the front `face of the centrifugal disc 24, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 10, the purpose of this spring being to normally push the disc 24 back on the Worm threads 23 when the shaft 2| is brought to rest or discontinues rotation, as shown in Figure 4. The centrifugal disc 24 is adapted to travel outwardly as the momentum of the shaft 2| increases, as shown in Figure 1. This mechanism puts the transmission in intermediate speed as thecar slows down in traffic or is brought to rest.

The driving shaft 2| is provided with a socket 29 at its inner end and also a reduced extension 30, as will be obvious by considering Figure 4. This socket 29 receives the reduced extension 3| of the forward section 32 of the driven shaft 33. The driven shaft 33 also is provided with a section 34, as is shown in Figure 1, for the purpose hereinis provided with a bearing ring 35 near Vitsrear end, which-bearing ring 35 constitutesvan abut-` ment for the rear end of the expansion spring 36 which is coiled about the forward section 32 of the driven shaft 33. This forward section 32 of the driven shaft 33 is provided with spiral channels 31, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, these spiral channels 31 extending for a portion of the length of the forward section 32 of the driven shaft 33.

The inner or rear end of the casing 26 carries a bearing 38 within which bearing 38 is journaled the inner or rear end of the key supporting drum -are provided with inwardly extending ShanksA 43 projecting into the bore 44'of the drum 39, as shown in detail in Figure 11. These shanks 4,3

are preferably tapered, as at 45, at their inner ends to facilitate the moving of the keys outwardly with respect to the drum, as will be hereinafter described. Each key 4| is preferably provided with a rounded o uter nose portion 46 and one side of each key 4| is provided with a shoulder 41 which is engaged by a tapering spring pressed pin 48 to normally hold the keys 4| in a retracted position and at the saine time allow the keys to be extended and retracted as occasion may require. Each spring pressed pin 48 is mounted within a suitable socket 49 formed at the drum 39, and these sockets are closed at their outer ends by threaded plugs 50, as is shown in Figure 15.

Slidably mounted within the drum 39 is a key operating sleeve 52 which snugly ts over the forward section 32 of the driven shaft 33, this .sleeve 52 having spirally threaded portions 53 formed on the inner face of the bore 54 and interiitting with the spiral channels 31 formed on the outer face of the section 32 of the driven shaft 33. The sleeve 52 is provided with an enlarged annular iiange or head portion 55, the

outer periphery of which is adapted to snugly engage the inner face of the bore 44'of the drum 39,l as is shown ind the assembled viewsV in Figures 1 and 4, and this flange or ,head portion 55V is provided withislots 56 extending transversely of the head portion 55 or longitudinally of the sleeve 52, which slots receive the elongated ribs or keys 51 formed within the bore 44 of the drum 39,

thereby permitting the sleeve 52 to slide longitudinally of the drum 39, but at the same time locking the sleeve 52 in anchored position against rotation independent of the drum 39. Intermediate the slots 56 and directly in the path of the aligned keys 4|- which are carried by the drum 39 are formed inclined notches 58 upon the front and rear faces of thehead portion 55, which notches extend toward the outer periphery of the flange or head portion 56 to provide inclined `trackways which are adapted to engage the inner tapering ends 45 of the shank portions 43 of the keys 4| for the purpose of progressively extending the keys as the sleeve 52 moves longitudinally within the drum 39. As will be noted by considering Figures 9 andA 11, there is preferably employed a series of aligned keys which, as will be hereinafter described are adaptedto progresafter described. The section 32 ofthe shaft 33 y.

sively engage the ring gears also to be hereinafter described. As many series of aligned keys may be employed as may be found desirable, but for present purposes four differentseries are illustrated in Figure 9, and under ordinary conditions 5 this structure would be foundy suiiicient.

A direct driving collar 66 is fitted over the forward end of the drum 39, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and this direct driving-collarl 661s provided with a projecting flange 6| which overhangs the forward end of the drum. 39, and is provided with an internal gear or toothed face 62 for the purpose hereinafter described. This direct driving collar 66 is provided with a ne'ck portion 63 having a plurality of longitudinally l5 extending slots 64 formed therein.

A power gear 65 is slidably mounted upon the reduced extension 36 of the driven shaft 2| and is provided with radiating arms 66 which extend through the slots 64 and support an integral ring 20 gear 61 at their outer ends thereby providing a power gear which may shift longitudinally of the direct driving collar 66. This direct driving collar 66 constitutes an. integral part of the driving shaft 2|, as will be noted by considering Figure 25 11. Consequently, the direct driving collar 66 will at al1 times rotate with the driving shaft 2|. The power gear 65 is engaged by an expansion spring 68 which is mounted within a socket 69 formed in the inner end of the shaft 2|. This 30 spring normally urges the power gear 65 inwardly upon the reduced extension 36 of this shaft and normally holds the sam'e in contact with the forward end of the key operating sleeve 54, and as this key operating sleeve 54'is moved forwardly 35 the power gear 65 will be pushed forwardly against the expansion spring 68.

The power gear 65 is engaged by the inner ends -of the pushing pins 16 which are slidably mounted slots1l. These pins 16 have laterally bent ends A12 which normally contact with the inner face of the centrifugal disc 24, as shown in Figure 4.

vIt should be noted that the threads 23 are right-hand threads and consequently, the momentum of the shaft 2| will move the disc 24 forwardly away from the case 26 and the spring 21 will push the disc 24 back as the momentum ofthe shaft decreases. r to move backward, allowingvsleeve 52 tomove backward into second gear. As the momentum increases, disc 24 moves forward allowing spring 36 to push sleeve 52 and rods 16 forward, putting the device in high gear.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the drum 3,9 is provided with an abutment flange 13 at the inner or rear end, it being noted that the direct ldriving' collar -66 ts over the forward or outerrend of the drum 39. Between the inner face of the direct driving collar 60 and the flange 13 are mounted in side-by-side relation the ring gears 14, 15, 16,-and 11. Each ring gear is provided with gear teeth 18 upon the outer face thereof and a rounded toothed inner face 19, the rounded 60 toothedinner face 19 being adapted to be envgaged by the keys 4| for providing a clutching be hereinafter described. Y*

This enables the rods 16 50 toothed face 62 of the direct drivingcollar 80, thereby providing a direct connection between the driven and driving shaft. When the momentum ofthe vehicle or machine upon which-the device v is mounted slows down, necessitating-'the shifting of the parts from high gear, the decreasing of the momentum of the shaft 2`| will causetne` spring 21 to push the disk 24 back or inwardly, and this disc' 24 will `engage the' forward endsof the pins 10, and because of the fact `that the inner ends of these pins 1li contact with theforward f.

face Vof the gear 65, this gear 65 will be pushed rearwardly into meshing engagement with the gear 83 and the sleevev 52 will also be pushed inwardly causing the keys 4| adjacent ring gear I1 to have clutching ,engagement with the ring gear 11, which ring gear is in mesh with thegeariM,` thereby putting the parts again into second gear.

i Although various reducing gears, such as 84, 85,

86, and 81 have been illustrated, it is not desired to limit the present invention to any particular.l

number of Areducing gears which might be employed. l

When it is desired to. reverse the drive of the shaft 33, the clutch arm 91 may be shifted to bring the parts to the position shown in Figure 3, thereby obtaining a reverse drive as previously described. l

It should be noted that the spring 68 will assist in holding the gear 85 at all times into abutting contact with the forward end of the sleeve 52 and cause the gear 65 to slide inwardly as this sleeve 52 is carriedfrearwardly, The collar 35 is held stationary or against shifting movement by means of the arm\.ll)il. The spring 36 is compressed as' pressure increases thereon and expands as pressure is decreased. I'his -will'cause the sleeve 52 to move backward or forward as pressure is increased or decreasedv on the shaft 2|. The collar 35 may be moved back or shifted from the control on the dash-board through the medium of the control shaft lil. In moving the collar 35 back, the tension on spring 36 is decreased and the sleeve 52 mves into lower gear.

It shouldbe understood that this mechanism is l only used in case of emergency to get the transmission into lower gear, as for example when going down' grade.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction, combinations and arrangements of parts may be employed without departing, from the spirit of the invention so long as such changes fall vwithin the `scope of the appended claims. v

Having described the lnvention,'wh at" is claimed as new is:- l

l. In a speed changing device, the combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft, of a drum carried by the driven shaft, a'series *of different sized ring gears rotatably mounted upon the drum, clutching keys carriedby the drum and adapted` to be progressively moved into selective clutching engagement with the ring gears, a .drive means for said driving shaft, keys for forming a locking connection between the drum vand the drive means, sliding means mounted adjacent said drum for' automatically and progressively moving the clutching keys to locking positions to individually and selectively render the ring gears and drive means active, a series of reducing gears meshing with the ring gears, a power gear carried by the driving shaft, a gear cooperating with the reducing gears adapted to mesh with said power gear, and lcentrifugally controlled means constituting an inertia member for shiftgears, means for progressively and selectively by said driving shaft and rotating therewith, a

sleeve slidably mounted upon the-driven shaft, a drum carriedby the driven shaft, spring means engaging the inner end of said sleeve, ring gears carried by the drumkeys carried by` the drum and adapted to be progressivelymoved into'engagement with the ring gears as said sleeve is moved longitudinally of the driven shaft, said driven shaft having spiral channels Aformed thereon, 20

means. carried by the sleevel and fitting in the channels for moving said sleeve longitudinally of spring in response to the load on said driven shaft thereby causing a relative movement between 25 said last mentioned shaft and sleeve to bring said sleeve in contact with said keys and progressively move the keys into progressive engagement with the ring gears, the key to one ring gear disengear engages, reducing gears in mesh with the ring gears, the reducing gears being driven by. the drive gear, keys for locking the direct drive collar upon the drum, said keys being actuated by the sliding of said sleeve into engagement with the last mentioned keys, andsaid ysleeveI having l 'abutting engagement with said power gear for vautomatically shifting the power gear out of engagement with the drive g'ear when said last` mentioned keys are moved to an operative posisaid driven shaft against the tension of vsaid 'gaging as the key' for the next adjoining ring 30 tion for locking the direct drive collar upon said drum.

3. 'In a speed changing device, the combinationv 'f with`a driving shaft and a driven shaft, reducing 45 making a driving connection between the reducgears, means for progressivelyfandselectively ing gearsA and the driven shaft, a driving gear4 for'4 driving the reducing gears, a power gear slidablyv mounted upon the driving shaft, yieldable means for normally holding the power gear in an inactive position and out of mesh with said driving gear, and centrifugally-controlled meansconstituting an inertia member carried by the driving shaftl for automatically, sliding the power-'gear into mesh with the driving gear when the speed of the 'driving shaft is )increased to a predetermined y degree.

4; In a speed changing device, the combination Awith a driving shaft and adriven shaft, reducing making a driving connection between the reducing gears and the driven shaft, a driving gear for driving the reducing gears, a power gear slidably mounted upon the driving shaft, yieldablemeans for normally holding the power gear in an` ln'- active positioncand out of mesh with said driving gear, an inertia disccarried by the driving shaft, Worm threads vformed uponthe driving shaft and engaging the disc Afor moving the disc longitudinally of the Vdriving shaft when the speed of the driving shaft is increased, yieldable means for returning the disc to its normal position when the speed of the driving shaft is reduced, push pins interposed between the power gear and said disc for automatically shifting the power gea r 75 .a spool 82 having a gear 83. at one end located near the forward end of the casing 20. and a gear 04 arranged in spaced relation and located just above the rlnggear 11. Also keyed to this shaft 30 are the gears 95, 96 and 61, which are keyed t the shaft 55'. Y

Reverse mechanism"l provided with a socket 9| for receiving the reduced extension 92 of the rear section 34 of the driven shaft 33, the rear section 34 of the driven shaft 33 being journaled in the journal 93,(see Figure 1). A gear 94 is slidably mounted upon the rear end of the section 32 ofthe driven shaft v33 and is keyed to rotate therewith through the medium of thekeys 95 and this gear 94 is provided with a collar flange 96 which is engaged by the clutch arm `91. 'I'his clutch arm 91 also engages the collar 98 of the gear 99, which gear 99 is slidably mounted upon the rear section 34 of the driven shaft 33 and slides on the keys |00. 'I'he gear 99 may be moved to a position to overhang the abutting ends o`f the forward and rear sections 32 and 34 of the driven shaft 33,.as is shown in Figure 1, thereby locking the sections 32 and 34 of the shaft 33 for unitary rotation. 'As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the collar 96 of the gear 94 is spaced slightly from the supporting shaft in order to prevent the gear 94 from coming -into `contact engagement with the forward end of the section 34 of the shaft 33 when the gears' 94 and4 99 are '.shifted into reverse position. As shown. in Figures 2 and 3, the rearv end of the housing 89 is enlarged to house the reverse gear `mechanism, and a reverseV driving gear |9| isjoumaied within tn housing as upon the snm |02, and is in a position to mesh with the gear 94 when this gear 94 is shiftedgrearwardly-to the reverse position or to the position shown in -Figure 3. Located to one side of the'gear |0| and in constant mesh therewith, vis a gear |03 carried by the spool |04, which lspool |04 also carries the .gear-|05. As the clutch arm 91 is moved to areverse position, the gears 94 and 99 will be moved to the position shown in Figure 3, thereby bringing into meshing relation the gear 99 with the gear |05. This gear 94 by being in suspended upon a supporting pin |06, and this arm 91 may be attached to a suitable operating rod |01 which rod may pass to the dash 'or to any suitable or convenient point of operation to permit the parts to be readily shifted from forward to' reverse position, or vice versa.

In order that the parts may be mechanically shifted to throw the driving shaft into direct drive withthe driven shaft, a suitable mechanism of any type may be employed, such for--in stance as'a shifting arm |08 for contact with the bearing vring 35, which arm |08 may be slidably mounted within a casing |09 actuated by worm shaft ||0, and controlled or operated through a suitable control shaft leading from the dash. This device is used to release tension on spring 30 which in turn allows operating sleeve 52 to move down and change into a lower gear as necessary in coming down grades. This is to be operated from the dash board and tension released from spring 36 as needed, as stated above. This particular structure may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Operation The operation of the ,device is as follows:-

When the machine upon which the device, is mounted comes to a rest or to a stop, the power gear 65 will be in mesh with the gear 83 which is equivalent to the second gear of the conventional type of gear mechanism. Furthermore, when'the speed of themachine upon which the device is mounted slows down to a minimum speed, in which the second gear normally would be used, the power gear` 65 and the gear 93 will also be in mesh, the power gear 65 being forced toward the rear endof the slots 64 through the medium of the spring 69. This' rearward sliding movement of the power gear 65 will force the key operating sleeve 52 rearwardly upon the section 32 ofthe shaft 33, and thereby force one of the sets of keys 4| into clutching engagement ,with the ring gear 11. The ring gear 11 will beput in operative meshing engagement with the gear 94, and the gear 93 .likewise will gear 65. As the momentum of the engine is speeded up and the speed of the driving shaft 2| is increased, the key operating sleeve 52 will follow along the spiral channels 31 of the shaft section 32 until the speed of the shaft 2| is balanced by the pull of the load on the shaft '33. If the pull or drag of the load is greater than the power transmitted from the shaft 2| when ,the gear 94 is vin operative meshing engagement with the ring 11; the sleeve 52 will continue to move longitudinally with the shaft'section 32 until the rearmost set of keys' 4| locks the ring gear 14 in engament with the drum 39and consequently thereby providing an .operative connection between the meshing low throw the reducing gears 85, 95 and 04 into action through the medium of the keys 4| which will be progressively moved into and out of engagement with the respective ringgears cooperating therebe in mesh with the i',

with. The spring 36 will tend to force the sleeve A 52 forwardly and the notches 58 are .so formed on the head or flange 55 as to cause the keys of one ring gear to be withdrawn as the next tacting with the rear face of the gear 65 the 70 gear 65 will be pushed forwardly against the compression of the spring 69 thereby moving the gear -65 out of meshing engagement with the gear 83 and forcing the keys in the forward end of the drum 39 into clutching engagement with the' 75 .jacent the driven shaft, a driving gear l i 2,045,835 froml an inactive to a meshing engagement with ing the reducing gears, a power gear carried by f ing engagement with with said power. gear,

the driving shaft and slidably-mounted on the4 driving shaft, means forautomatically shifting the power gear into mesh with the driving gear, a drum carried by the driven shaft, ring. gears carried by said drum, keys carried by the drum and. progressively movabiginto and out of clutchthe'ring gears for individually locking the ring gears upon the drum to rotate therewith, a key for locking said drum with said driving shaft, a key operating sleeve slidably mounted upon the driven shaft and contacting the sleeve having means for engaging said keys to progressively move the keys into and outof locking position, said driven shaft having spiral channels, means on said sleeve fitting in the 4channels for drawing the sleeve longitudinally of the driven shaft, and a spring mounted upon the driven shaft and normally urging said sleeve to a forward position and to a position to'lock the drum in engagement with the driving shaft. f" 6. In a speed changing device, the combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft, a

`series of reducing gears.` of different ratios mounted adjacent the driven shaft, a driving 'gear for rotating the reducing gears, a power gear carried by the driving shaft and slidably mounted on the driving shaft, means for automatically shifting the power gear into mesh with the driving gear, a drum carried by the driven shaft, ring gears carried by said drum, keys carried by the drum and progressively movable into and out of clutching engagement with the ring gears for individually locking to rotate therewith, a key for locking said drum with said driving shaft; a key operating sleeve slidably mounted upon the driven shaft and contacting with said power gear,the sleeve having means for engaging said keys to progressively move the keys into and` out of locking position, said driven shaft having spiral channels, means on said sleeve fitting in the channels for drawing the sleeve longitudinally of the driven shaft, a spring mounted upon mally urging said sleeve to a forward position and to a position to lock the drum in engagement with the driving shaft, an inertia disc mounted upon said driving shaft, worm threads formed `on the driving shaft for moving the inertia disc inwardly toward the power gear/pushing pins interposed between the inertia discand power gear for pushing the power gear into mesh with the driving gear as said the power gear, the power gear also moving said sleeve to a position to lo'ck the forward ring gear into driving relation with respect to the drum for mmeans for vengaging ,said keys the ring gears upon the drum the driven shaftand norl inertia dise moves inwardly towardimparting rotary movementl from the drive shaft through the power gear, ythrough the driving gear, through the reducing gear, through the inner ring gear to the drum, and finally to the driven shaft.

'7. In a speed changing device, the combination with. a driving shaft of reducing gears of acent the driven shaft, a driving gear for rotatfing the reducing gears, 'a power gear carried by the driving shaft and slidably mounted on the driving shaft,'lmeans for automatically shifting the power gear into meshv with the driving gear, a drurn carried by the driven shaft, ring gears carried by said drum, keys carried by the drum and progressively movable into and out of clutchand a driven shaft, aA series l different ratios mounted ading engagement with the ring gears for individually locking the ring gears upon the druml to rotate therewith, a key for locking said drum with said driving shaft, a key operating sleeve slidably mounted upon the driven'shaft and con- ,tacting with 'said power gear, the sleeve having to progressively move the keys into' and out of locking position, said driven shaft on'saidsleeve fitting lin the channels for drawing the sleeve longitudinally of the driven' shaft, a spring mounted mally urging said sleeve to a -forward position andmto a position toV lock the drum in-engagement with the driving shaft, each key having an enlarged rounded outer end and a reduced shank, said shank being tapered at its'lowerend, said sleeverbeing provided withinclined notches to facilitate the riding of the key over said sleeve. and each key also having notches' in the side thereof,A spring pressed plungers Iengaging the having spiral channels, means notches for frictionally holding said keys against accidental shifting movement.

8. In a speed changing with a driving shaft and a drivenshaft, automatic 'gear shifting means for imparting rotary moyement from the driving shaft to the driven shaft the driven shaft comprising a forward and a` rear section arranged in end abutting relation, a longitudinally shiftable gear carried by one section and shiftable to an overlapping position with respect to both sections of spaced driving pinion carried by one section of the driving shaft, a reversing gear train located adjacent the driven shaft and vanchored against bodily shiftable movement, a supporting pin carried above said reversing gear train, a clutch arm device, the combinationv the driven shaft, a.'

slidably suspended upon 4said pin and shiftable JOSEPH C; CoEN. 

